FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Trump Imposes Sanctions on Iran; Rouhani Replies with His Own Proposal for Negotiations
Aug. 7, 2018 (EIRNS)—Just as he said he would on May 8, when he announced that he was pulling the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, President Donald Trump issued the executive order, yesterday, imposing the first round of reimposed sanctions on Iran. This round of sanctions targets Iran’s automotive sector and on its trade in gold and precious metals, as well as sanctions related to the Iranian rial currency. The next round of sanctions, to be imposed on Nov. 5 will target Iran’s energy sector, including petroleum-related transactions, as well as transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran. After applauding those European firms that have already pulled out of Iran, Trump called on all nations to take such steps
“to make clear that the Iranian regime faces a choice: either change its threatening, destabilizing behavior and reintegrate with the global economy, or continue down a path of economic isolation.”
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani responded in a very interesting manner, both denouncing the sanctions but also opening a door to talks. In a nationally televised speech, he focused on the question of negotiations:
“If somebody claims that they are willing to negotiate, they have to observe the basics, the first one of which is honesty that the two sides must believe in, as well as reaching a conclusion,”
he said.
“The person who is claiming to be willing to negotiate today, has withdrawn from all international commitments from Paris Agreement to its business commitments with other countries,”
he said. Rouhani also went on to say:
“If somebody puts a knife in its opponent or enemy’s arm and says we want to negotiate; the answer is that they must first pull out the knife and then come to the negotiation table....
“Negotiation at the same time with sanctions is meaningless and these sanctions are targeting Iranian children and people,”
he continued. But, he stated:
“I have no preconditions. If U.S. administration is ready today, we’re ready to negotiate with them about the compensation that they must pay to Iranians since 1953.”
